DIARRHEA CONTINUES to be a leading cause of mortality around the world, resulting in 2.2 million deaths annually.1 In the United States each year, diarrhea results in 300 deaths, 220 000 hospitalizations, and 1.5 million outpatient visits among children younger than 5 years. The annual direct cost for hospitalization and outpatient visits for pediatric diarrhea is estimated to be more than $2 billion.2